MLB: Twins spoke to Pirates about Alvarez who drew little interest

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The Pittsburgh Pirates found out this week, Pedro Alvarez’s trade value is at an all-time low and that doesn’t bode well for the off-season.

According to team sources, the Pirates actively tried to move Alvarez in potential deals for Major League roster players, including a deal with the Chicago Cubs this afternoon, but the Cubs weren’t interested in the now widely looked at platoon player.

Only one team is said to have expressed some level of interest in Alvarez, the Minnesota Twins and the talks didn’t get past the exploratory stage.

Alvarez making $4.25 million this season is likely to be aggressively shopped this winter with his salary set to rise above $5 million.

One player who drew quite a bit of interest was Starling Marte. The latest talk is the Seattle Mariners made an aggressive push for Marte prior to the 3:00 p.m. deadline and the Mariners acquiring Austin Jackson.

The Pirates are said to have not been interested in dangling Marte in talks for Jon Lester or John Lackey as word throughout the industry is Pittsburgh and Boston had discussions about Lackey with the Red Sox asking for Marte as it became clear to the Pirates last night, Boston was going in another direction in trading Lester elsewhere.

Pirates officials strongly contend Josh Bell was never in play for a rental player.